294 THE PERFECT HORSE. 



^' blood." Out upon the assertion! His blood must 

 have been of the purest, or it never could have ruled in 

 mastery over all other bloods, as it did, and still con- 

 tinues to do. 



Ask Mr. Wallace, one of the most honest and pains- 

 taking students of the horse any nation has ever been 

 honored with, — ask him what is the superlative test of 

 blood ; and he will tell you, the power to marh descend- 

 ants with its own characteristics. This is the crucial 

 test, beside which mere verbal pedigrees are simply bits 

 of paper. Apply this test to Justin Morgan (there are 

 many horses who walk with plumed heads to-day that 

 cannot stand this test), and see how royally he bears it ! 

 Stand him in the full blaze of such a scrutiny, and ob- 

 serve that the fervor which withers other garlands only 

 causes his wreath to take a greener hue. How other 

 bloods bowed in submission to his ! Crossed with twenty 

 families, he dominated over them all. No matter what 

 the dam might be, the colt was sure to look like the 

 sire. There were the same feet and legs, and depth of 

 chest, and haunches swollen with muscles, the same 

 proud curve to the neck, prominent eye, quick ear, full 

 front, and muzzle lean as a sweated racer's. Men say he 

 had no pedigree. He had. His pedigree was written 

 in the form and spirit of his children. It was verified 

 beyond the verification of written affidavits. Not that 

 these were lacking. No candid and intelligent student 

 of the question can have the shadow of a doubt that his 

 sire was Beautiful Bay, or that his dam was of the 



